University Students "COVID-19 Violates Right to Education, Refund Tuition for First Half of the Year"

Tuition Refund Movement Headquarters Calls for COVID-19 Measures Discussion and Amendment of Higher Education Act

On the 21st of last month, members of the National University Student Network held hand placards with content related to tuition refund during a press conference delivering the results of a survey on tuition refund and economic measures for university students, which involved 21,784 participants from 203 universities nationwide, held in front of the Government Seoul Office Building. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis prolongs, university students are expected to intensify demands for tuition refunds. Students plan to file tuition refund lawsuits and launch signature campaigns to amend related legislation.

The Tuition Refund Movement Headquarters, composed of the National University Student Council Network?consisting of student councils from over 30 universities nationwide?and the Art University Student Network, held a "Tuition Refund Lawsuit and Legislative Amendment Signature Campaign Declaration Press Conference" on the 14th in front of the Seoul Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, urging tuition refunds for the first half of the year.

They raised their voices, stating, "As the COVID-19 situation enters its fourth month, 3 million university students nationwide are not receiving any guarantees of educational rights or class rights equivalent to the tuition fees set by the Tuition Deliberation Committee."

They added, "With the COVID-19 crisis continuing for four months, undemocratic decision-making and irresponsible decisions have prolonged the disaster situation for university students," emphasizing, "Filing legal lawsuits regarding the damages and correcting the provisions of the Higher Education Act that allow universities' evasive tactics is our constitutional right."

They continued, "In the United States, students from over 50 universities have already started tuition refund lawsuits and online petitions, and in the United Kingdom, university students have begun movements demanding refunds of tuition and dormitory fees," noting, "Some overseas universities, such as Kyoto University of the Arts in Japan and universities in Iowa and Wisconsin in the United States, have decided to partially refund tuition to students."

Additionally, they demanded △ amendments to the Higher Education Act and tuition regulations △ discussions on COVID-19 countermeasures in universities together with students.

They concluded by urging, "The Ministry of Education and university administrations must apologize for the disaster situation in universities caused by COVID-19 and decide on tuition refunds," emphasizing, "The flawed Higher Education Act and tuition-related regulations must be immediately revised."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.